Julio Arca has leapt to the defence of "fantastic" Mick McCarthy after a difficult week for the Sunderland manager.

A public spat, now resolved, with chairman Bob Murray has subjected McCarthy's Premiership record to unflattering scrutiny. But Argentinian midfielder Arca, one of the few members of the squad not signed by the Yorkshireman, says the players stand fully behind him.

"The manager is fantastic and nobody should think any differently," said the 25-year-old. "We are all behind the manager and always will be.

"Six months ago he was a hero. Now after the season we are having he isn't, but it is everybody's fault."

One of the club's longest-serving players, Arca was keen to stress the difficulty of the task McCarthy inherited in March 2003.

"The club was in a right mess until he took over," he pointed out. "He got this club to the play-offs in his first (full) season along with an FA Cup semi-final. A year later he won the league and got Sunderland back into the Premiership.

"People have to just think about that.

"It's easy to forget for them - it isn't for us."

The difference between this season and the last relegation McCarthy presided over would seem to be the attitude of the squad. Whereas in 2002-03 the minds of many appeared elsewhere once relegation loomed, the current, much younger group is resolved not to go down without a fight.

"We are all sad to be in this situation and it's very difficult for the manager too," Arca said. "But we are all determined to get back the good times.

"Everybody is fighting for this club.

"We will not give up until the mathematicians say we cannot stay up. We have to think we can still get out of it but we know how hard it is going to be."

Arca has described this season as his worst in the Premiership - no mean feat after 2003 - but is loath to return to the Football League.

"It's a horrible season for me, the club and everyone," he added. "It sticks out as the worst performance in a Premiership season at the moment. It's horrible to be involved in something like that.

"I know what it is like to play in the Championship and I don't want to return.

"To drop out of the Premiership means playing 46 games a season, three games a week. It's a very physical league and not pleasant at all.

"Playing in the Premier League means playing in one of the best leagues in the world against the best players. That's where you want to be."

Arca is cautious, however, of talk about McCarthy fielding some of his youngsters against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. He admitted: "I don't know if it's the right time to give them that chance or not. We are not actually out of it yet.

"The gaffer is the only person who can decide. If he does pick them I'm sure those players will do the best they possibly can.

"With the suspensions (Steve Caldwell, Stephen Wright and Dean Whitehead are all banned) there is a stronger possibility the younger players will come in. But the gaffer also has to play players he thinks will be up for the challenge."

It seems highly unlikely Sunderland will make their highest earner endure another season in the Football League when the inevitable is confirmed.

But 24-year-old Dean Whitehead has promised to stay loyal and expects the majority to do likewise.

"I've got three-and-a-half years left here and I'm not thinking about any other club," said the midfielder linked with Liverpool and Manchester City. "All the lads feel the same. We're desperately disappointed with the way the season has gone but I don't think there will be an exodus if we go down."